A Silent Voice follows Akiyah, a boy who mercilessly bullies a deaf girl named Reina during primary school (they’re 10-12 years old here) Reina struggles to fit in, and Akiyah often targets her out of boredom and cruelty. One of the most painful moments occurs when Akiyah repeatedly rips Reina’s hearing aids out, damaging them and causing her physical pain such as her ears bleeding and deep humiliation. His classmates laugh or stay silent, and Reina quietly apologizes even when she is the one being hurt. Eventually, the bullying becomes unbearable, and Reina is forced to transfer schools.